On my iBook I can set the desktop to 256 colors and then run a max app in window mode. The OpenGL just dithers to the best fitting colors. You can turn dithering off, but I don't know if there are really any features to define and play with color palette.
Plus, these days you shouldn't need color palettes. Just work in 16/32 bit.
Plus, these days you shouldn't need color palettes. Just work in 16/32 bit.